Things of Concern presents both opinions on contemporary relevant topics, and in-depth analysis and solutions; it addresses everything from terrorism to the war and more.
Things Of Concern
A Dissertation Relating To The State Of The World And The State Of The MindBy Joseph K. GoldsteinTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2009 Joseph K. Goldstein
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4269-1391-4Contents
Preface- By Way Of Saying How Do You Do....................................................xiChapter 1-Global Terrorism.................................................................1Open Letter On Global Terrorism Part 1- "The Local Scene"..................................1An Adjunct To The Letter Part 2- "Going beyond local"......................................4Another Adjunct To The Letter Part 3-"Who are you?"........................................9Today, July 7, 2005 And What It Means Part 4 -"And It Doesn't Stop"........................13An Adjunct To July 7 - Part 5-"Round-Up Time"..............................................16Chapter 2-"WMD"-Thoughts On Polarization-March, 2004.......................................18WMD........................................................................................21Some Thoughts On The U.S. Quandry-March 2004...............................................24An Open Letter To My Leadership............................................................25Chapter 3-Global Conflict..................................................................29Nation Against Nation......................................................................29Of Religion-Based Intolerance, Violence, And Hatred........................................30Internal Strife............................................................................32Chapter 4-On The Economy...................................................................34World Trade................................................................................37World Poverty..............................................................................40Impact Of Terrorism On The World Economy...................................................41Energy/Oil Impact..........................................................................44Socialistic Tendencies.....................................................................46Growth.....................................................................................48Chapter 5-Education........................................................................51Availability...............................................................................52Quality....................................................................................54Desire For--..............................................................................56Something New??-And Just A Bit Of An Educational Seed......................................57Chapter 6- The Environment.................................................................60World-Wide.................................................................................60Country-Wide...............................................................................61Business Impacts...........................................................................62Chapter 7-Drug Proliferation...............................................................64Impact On Society-Financial................................................................64Impact On Society-Citizen Lives............................................................65Chapter 8-Pregnancy, Birth, Old Age, And Death.............................................69Pregnancy..................................................................................72& Abortion.................................................................................72Old Age....................................................................................73Death......................................................................................74Chapter 9- Illegal Immigration.............................................................77Cost Of Services...........................................................................80Impact On Law And Order....................................................................81Impact On Sovereignty......................................................................82Impact On The Foundations Of Our Society...................................................83Chapter 10-Hurricane At Large..............................................................85Flash About Flood-Sept. 6, 2005............................................................86Can't We All.....Along Sept. 15, 2005......................................................91Chapter 11-Some Things That Got Missed.....................................................92And Another Thing..........................................................................93An Aside...................................................................................95Chapter 12-And What To Conclude About All These Things.....................................98Chapter 13- And What Next?.................................................................101Addendum-Offering Plans For Resolution.....................................................103Introduction To Formulation................................................................103Global Terrorism...........................................................................107WMD........................................................................................114The Economy................................................................................118Illegal Immigration (Anywhere).............................................................121Education, And Volitional Science..........................................................125Global Conflict............................................................................128The Environment............................................................................130Drugs......................................................................................133Hurricane At Large-Response To Natural Disaster............................................136Pregnancy, Birth, Old Age, And Death.......................................................139Chapter Last-The Royal Combination Of Programs.............................................142Appendix-Volitional Science................................................................147Some Definitions To Get It All Going.......................................................148The Key Question, The Universal Can Opener, Is "Whose Property Is It?".....................149Now To Get It All Going....................................................................151Return To Some Basics......................................................................152Certain "Inalienable" Goodies..............................................................152
Chapter One
Global Terrorism
This section spurred the creation of the whole document. It was the realization that the Free World is different as a result of the 9/11 affronts on humanity. Sure we all knew that there was always a fine line between order and chaos, and that all it takes is a very few to upset a balance. But now that the balance is upset, the Free World needs to gear up and contain the threat, and eliminate it in whatever way it can. Because progress can be forward or backward, depending on perspective, and darn it, I like to see progress as moving into the light, not the dark.
Open Letter On Global Terrorism Part 1-"The Local Scene"
WE ARE THE SAME, ALL OF US. We care, and now we fear. It is not cowardice, but instead the awareness that purity in our lives is under attack by these acts of terrorism. I NEED to take action, and know that we are the same, that you too feel the threat, and want to act. So I have started by putting some thoughts together. I am sending them to you, in the hopes that they strike a similar vibration, and begin a really important initiative towards the elimination of terrorist activity. For all of us-our kids, neighbors, our future as humanity, ourselves. I really want the right thoughts and acts to surface a safe world for us all.
To our future, Joe Goldstein
A Patriotic Effort: May 22, 2002
Let me introduce myself. I am just an American- a guy with a wife, and two kids in college, and recently retired from the work force after 41 years of engineering in aerospace. And now my world is turned down, just the same as everyone else's. I know that terrorist attacks on the United States and Western culture have been carefully orchestrated through small cells and independent plans, established within and against the freedoms of this society. They are time bombs moving inexorably to release. I am not happy, because I want to contribute something to eliminate these terrible possibilities, but right now, I am not sure what that should be.
I see our military response to these attacks, and am recognizing that pure force alone will not provide resolution. I am not privy to the more cloistered of diplomatic and military activity, but I see a parallel to conditions in the State of Israel, where the forces of destruction are willing to die with the promise of martyrdom. But I do not wish to address this death wish, merely to pre-empt the ability of such forces to complete their destructive deeds.
As of this moment, I don't yet see the direct path to how my energies, as a civilian, as a threatened citizen, can be harnessed productively in a way to aid my country. Somehow I know that each and every American and each and every person/creed/nation that values innocent life, can come together to overcome these efforts of destruction. A world coalition of people will support the political coalitions sought by governments in the effort to establish a world free from terrorism.
Starting at a grass-roots level, I see that development of a neighborhood mind-set would start a really positive process. I absolutely do not foster any citizen vigilante approach because that would over-ride the basic freedoms upon which our societies have been based. It would damage the innocent and create havoc. Rather, I support the establishment of local groups, focused on preservation of our freedoms. To prevent excesses in the name of freedom, these groups must represent a positive movement, not as citizen police, but rather in a close "neighborhood-watch" relation that embraces all neighborhoods and residents. Whether in a tenement, condominium, townhouse, apartment, farm, private dwelling neighborhood-this concept supports a personal familiarity that instantaneously provides local happenings, information, events, people movement, etc...
I believe an expansion and redirection of the current "neighborhood concept, originally formed to thwart local crime, can have an infrastructure which can be expanded to a higher, loftier, and more urgent goal. Changes would be required, such as charter and purpose, which would be established by and at a national level. This would include patriotic awareness, neighborhood awareness, and clear limits to activity and authority of the group. I know that current address databases offer logical areas of influence. What would be important is a tie-in with authority to empower the local chapters to work within very stringent but meaningful constraints, and to foster two-way communication from the local group to police, the city, the state, and the federal government.
This sounds like a big bite, but frankly, America and the Free World needs to use and empower its citizenry and imbed a methodology for the protection of our freedoms, one without unnecessary financial burden further eroding our standards of living. This is a voluntary approach that I can support. I am a person who needs to contribute, wants to contribute; and I am afraid that without all of us helping, we will be the weaker for it.
Most importantly, if we put this structure and organization in place now, it will be tried, tested, ready, and operating before and hopefully obviating, any future events. It needs to be now, we cannot keep waiting until the next one and the next one and the next one. We cannot be a paper tiger with ineffectual response.
Please think about this. I send this to my friends-pass it on for others to review and improve. I send this to my congressman and other political figures in the hopes that all will embrace this patriotic calling. If it seems appropriate, then legislation could be immediately introduced to create and support "National Watch". I call on all of you who read this to forward it to others and vocalize support to your congressmen. I rely on the congressional personnel to whom this is sent to acknowledge constituent support as it comes in, and to implement this program.
In sincerity, J. K. Goldstein
ADJUNCT TO THE LETTER part 2-"going beyond local"
WE ARE THE SAME, ALL OF US. We care, and now we fear. It is not cowardice, but instead the awareness that purity in our lives is under attack by these acts of terrorism. I NEED to take action, and know that we are the same, that you too feel the threat, and want to act. So I have started by putting some thoughts together. I am sending them to you, in the hopes that they strike a similar vibration, and begin a really important initiative towards the elimination of terrorist activity. For all of us-our kids, our neighbors, and future humanity- I really want the right thoughts and acts to surface a safe world for us all.
To our future, Joe Goldstein
A Position on Terrorism: May 23, 2002
First, let me once again introduce myself. I am just an American- a guy with a wife, and two kids in college, and recently retired from the work force after 41 years of engineering in aerospace. And now my world is turned upside down, just the same as everyone else's. After a lot of agonizing during the past few weeks, I have written this message as an addition to my initial reactions to the terrorist activities.
The complex issue of fighting terrorism must consider containment, elimination, restitution, and at the very worst- retribution. Immediate focus must be on the perpetrating terrorists. A second focus must be placed on those who aid and abet these individuals. Thirdly, but by no means last, is a focus on the organizations that sponsor and support such acts- not the terrorist cell, but the root source. Such people and their organizations must be totally and permanently defused.
Multi-pronged response to terrorism necessitates addressing both the urgent and the important fronts. Most urgent are actions necessary to thwart incipient acts, requiring that the actual terrorist cells be located. No safe harbor, no working environment, can be allowed. Into whichever country they enter, they endanger every citizen, because ethnic nor religious origin reduces the threat of biological or nuclear impact to a citizen in a country under terrorist attack. In fact, the danger increases with proximity if the perpetrators seek anonymity within such a community.
Although anti-terrorist response is the jurisdiction of special government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, DHS, and International Police, they are all supported by local law enforcement and local community activity. To foster efficient, complete, and devastating enforcement, authority is provided to these entities, allowing anti-terrorist agencies the capability to pre-empt these actions. Communities need to form and support citizen "Neighborhood Watch"/ "National Watch", promoting an expanded charter which recognizes the dire situation existing today. These watch groups would have as a mission the fostering of patriotic awareness, neighborhood awareness, and a familiarity with the residents and transients of each neighborhood. The groups would operate under very clear limits of activity established on a national level, to insure that they do not exceed lawful authority. Timely and relevant information obtained by the group would be presented to authority as soon as uncovered.
The second part of this approach involves additional personnel availability for involvement in anti-terrorist activity. The population of this country includes a large percentage of retired people who are enjoying the benefits resulting from many years of hard work, and who also wish to pass this legacy on to their progeny. I am one of these people. I am no longer part of the work force, and this is by choice. However, also by choice, I want and need to be a part of this effort to overcome threats to my way of life. So in addition to every citizen doing their part, perhaps retirees can be tapped for time and expertise in special ways of fighting terrorism.
The third portion of this approach involves the global community. As an underlying premise, root cause of these terrorist acts is their own perception of threat and therefore a cultivated and developed hatred against the West. The issue lies in the desire of the Muslim Fundamentalists to remain pure and cloistered from other venues. Their ways are threatened by the global nature of technology today, including free trade, communication, transportation, personal interaction, and perceptions of human rights. Going beyond an embargo based on retribution, this situation can logically be turned in the right direction. Political action can and should involve supporting both terrorist and anti-terrorist goals of total isolation of such terrorist mind-set from global interaction. This means focus on those governments who sponsor, aid, and abet such activity.
Response must be on an international level. Here the international community, through the United Nations, is a perfect forum. Paraphrasing U. S. President George W. Bush, "there are only two possible positions on terrorism; either you are against the terrorists or an enemy of those against the terrorists". Grey does not exist- there is no neutral position, and there can be no dealings of appeasement through fear, because that is the method of terrorism. The steps in the establishment of positions are already in motion through diplomatic coalition. National leadership in each and every country of the world must take a position of condemnation, or else they will be condoning terrorist acts. This schism falls within the charter of the United Nations, with a clear and absolute position to expel any nation that condones and supports terrorist activity to achieve global ends. United Nations action must take the form of embargo and isolation.
Make no mistake; these words and such actions create a terrible scenario. For all the years of human history, there have always been wars, always have and have-nots, always aggressors and victims. Finally, in this age of technology and world-level communication and activity, humanity has the opportunity to overcome these issues. But that is not yet today's world situation, mainly because education towards understanding and appreciation of these issues relates to individual environment. Insular conditions that oppose unbiased, untainted thinking exist in many areas of the world. Many atrocious conditions are accepted as normal by such societies. Blatant shortfalls as measured against some societies are not at issue in others. The people involved, not outside observers, establish judgment. Until such time as people themselves feel the need for change, we can see the consequence of, and response to, humanitarian attempts to influence these areas- its name is Terrorism. It is the dastardly last strike-back resort of insularity.
On a global level then, perhaps the right solution is to once again establish a "cold war" mentality, this time identifying the forces of terrorism as the cancer they are, and to insure an isolationist situation for any nation supporting terrorism, forcing it into its own private and secular existence. Such a nation would NOT benefit from the advances of, and interactions with, free society. The world community would shun such a nation and its representatives. However, the free world would always embrace those who would wish to leave such insular existence, and provide choice to those who would enter a free world environment through the concept of ASYLUM.
Accomplishing those major goals will not be easy, especially since isolation of nations of terror requires strong moral and ethical commitment by those opposed to terrorism. Mankind may not be ready to band together as one, in pursuit of moral and intellectual correctness. To this point in time, the world's nations have developed as geographical and geo-political entities, with major interaction based on the self-interests of trade, profit, and self-protection.
The worst aspect of this approach is the possible "coalition of the banned". This must be addressed. Perhaps it is time for a third concept, for the giant leap of mankind towards the concepts of "Volitional Science", a concept of bringing thinking minds and intellects to a higher goal, that of respect for the individual and his property. We must respect each other, for we will exist or perish based on our ways of dealing with each other. We have moved so far forward in both physical and biological science that we have created the ability to destroy ourselves. Terrorists with fanatical elements rewarded in and after death cannot be dealt with as reasoning entities in this world. World sponsored education promoting respect for property, both physical and intellectual, becomes the necessary cornerstone to the creation of an enduring free world civilization.
Through education, through free choice, and given the time to achieve, mankind will develop right relations between people and nations. Please think about this. I send this to my friends- to pass on for others to review and improve. I send this to my congressman and other political figures in the hopes that all will embrace this patriotic calling. If it seems appropriate, then legislation could be immediately introduced to create and support these initiatives. I call on all of you who read this to forward it to others and vocalize support to your congressman. I rely on the congressional personnel to whom this is sent to acknowledge constituent support as it comes in, and to foster and implement this program.
In sincerity, J. K. Goldstein
ADJUNCT TO THE LETTER part 3-"who are you?"
WE ARE THE SAME, ALL OF US. We care, and now we fear. It is not cowardice, but instead the awareness that purity in our lives is under attack by these acts of terrorism. I NEED to take action, and know that we are the same, that you too feel the threat, and want to act. So I have started by putting some thoughts together. I am sending them to you, in the hopes that they strike a similar vibration, and begin a really important initiative towards the elimination of terrorist activity. For all of us-our kids, our neighbors, and future humanity- I really want the right thoughts and acts to surface a safe world for us all.
To our future, Joe Goldstein
Steps in the Right Direction: May 24, 2002
First, let me once again introduce myself. I am just an American- a guy with a wife, and two kids in college, and recently retired from the work force after 41 years of engineering in aerospace. And now my world is turned upside down, just the same as everyone else's. After a lot of agonizing during the past few weeks, I have added even more to my initial reactions to the terrorist activities.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Things Of Concernby Joseph K. Goldstein Copyright © 2009 by Joseph K. Goldstein. Excerpted by permission.
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